Orlistat is a nonprescription and prescription drug that is used by individual looking forward to lose weight. It is used together with low fat, low calorie diet and exercise program in order to enhance the weight loss process. It is prescribed to people with excess weight who may also be suffering from high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes or heart disease. It is used after weight loss to prevent people from gaining back the lost weight. Orlistat belongs to class of medications known as lipase inhibitors and works by preventing absorption of fat in the intestines. The fat that is not absorbed is then eliminated from the body in the stool.
How to use it
The drug comes in form of capsule and also a non prescriptive capsule that is taken by mouth. You are supposed to take it three times daily with each of the meal that has fats. You are supposed to take it during a meal or up to one hour after a meal. In case a meal is missed or it does not contain fat, you can skip the dose. You are supposed to follow the direction provided on the package or prescription label carefully. If there is any part that you do not understand, you should ask your pharmacist or doctor. Just like any other drugs, you should never take less or more of it according to the prescriptions given.
Precautions to take
· Before taking the drug, you need to inform your pharmacist or doctor if you are allergic to it or any other drugs.
· You should also tell your doctor of any other non prescriptions or prescriptions, herbal products, supplements you are talking at the moment. You need to inform if you are taking any other weight drug too.
· In case you had an organ transplant, you need to inform your doctor or pharmacist for more advice to take or not to take it.
· Inform your doctor if you have a plan to get pregnant, you are pregnant or breastfeeding. In case of one of these, you should not take it.
What to do if you miss a dose
If you miss a dose, ensure you take if it is more than an hour after you have taken a main meal. In case, it is passed one hour, you need to skip the missed dose and move on with your regular dosing schedule.
Side effects
Some of the side effects associated with Orlistat include:
· Loose stools
· Stomach pain
· Problems controlling bowel movements
· Fatty or oily stools
· Headache
· Anxiety
· Stomach pain
Some serious side effects include:
· Vomiting
· Nausea
· Itching
· Breathing difficulties
· Continuous stomach pain
· Loss of appetite
· Dark coloured urine
